The incredibly powerful gospel choir is made up of members from those churches and is led by music director Elder Walter Jones. The concert, which is organized by Pastor Zollie Webb, Sherry Gregory, and Randy Roebuck, is a project of Evanston Own It, a group of 11 Black Evanston churches working to help reduce youth gun violence in Evanston. With tickets at just $10 ($5 for kids 12 and under and for seniors 65 and older-FREE for 85-year-olds and up), this should be a standing-room-only and standing-ovation affair! So many Evanston residents are missing the opportunity to participate in this evening of community, song, and support for Evanston's youth. Though the event is popular and well attended-mostly by Evanston's African American community-I've looked around the auditorium both times I've gone and bemoaned the too-many empty seats, and the too-few white faces. Hopefully, this event will have more participation and audience members in the years to come.For the past two years, my family and I, and several friends, have attended the amazing 'Evanston Sings' gospel choir concert at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) that raises funds for Mayor Steve Hagerty's Youth Summer Employment Program and the The Officer and Gentlemen Academy, a volunteer program led by Evanston Police Department officers to mentor young men. The number of people auditioning has been dwindling in the past few years, with the pandemic discouraging people from practicing their musical talents. Not everyone who auditioned was able to get into the concert itself. The process of auditioning for the recital was exclusive. “The experience of performing with the other students was a really cool thing to do,” she added. “I practiced this piece for a long time,” she said, “ It was a long piece to put together because each variation had its different challenges.” This was Von Hoff’s first year performing in the recital. One of these talented students, freshman Chloe Von Hoff played a 7-minute-long piece from memory on her violin. The instruments ranged from french horns to harps and the songs were written by an assortment of famous composers. Weeks of preparation went into each and every audition and performance.

Getting into this event is no small feat. Participants in the school band, orchestra and choir are able to audition for the chance to perform solo or with a group. On January 24 ETHS hosted its annual Honors Recital, an event hosted by the ETHS music staff.

Evanston township high school chorus